Iran and Syria will sign a free trade agreement in late November, according to the Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) of Iran, amid Tehrans plans to rely more on revenues derived from exports with a focus on neighbors and allied countries.
TPO chief Alireza Payman Pak said on Monday that the free trade deal between Iran and Syria will be finalized during a trip byIranian trade minister to Syrian capital Damascus on November 29.
Payman Pak said Iran will also implement a free trade deal with Pakistan as well as two preferential trade agreements with Indonesia and Venezuela in the near future.
The announcement is a fresh sign Iran is intent on expanding its non-crude exports to offset losses suffered on crude sales in recent years mainly because of US sanctions.
Exports to Syria currently account for a small portion of Irans total exports although authorities have repeatedly said that they have plans to increase the shipments.